Pro Tools|HDX

The Pro Tools|HDX system enables customers to mix bigger, more complex productions, with the rock-solid performance and stability that Pro Tools|HD customers have come to expect. This new system represents a milestone in Avid’s development of DSP-accelerated hardware, delivering up to 5x more DSP per card, over a thousand dB of additional headroom, and up to 4x the track counts and 2x the I/O compared to its Pro Tools|HD Accel predecessor. And as customers’ needs grow, the system can be scaled to increase track counts, power, and I/O, using up to three Pro Tools|HDX cards and multiple Pro Tools HD Series interfaces.

With this addition to the Pro Tools|HD family, there are now two powerful system choices. Customers can choose the Pro Tools|HD Native system if they need the advanced workflows and sound quality of Pro Tools HD, and want to leverage their host computer to get the best performance and lowest latency. Or customers can choose the new flagship DSP-accelerated Pro Tools|HDX system if they require consistent peak performance and near-zero latency to handle extremely large and complex productions. Together, the Pro Tools|HD product family provides the highest performance, lowest latency, and greatest sound quality available for the most demanding audio post and music production professionals.

Mix bigger, better projects faster

• Get up to 5x the processing power of previous generation cards
• Manage larger productions with fewer cards, with up to 4x the playable track counts
• Work with up to 64 channels of I/O per card, enabling larger configurations with fewer cards

Get more headroom—less headaches

• Dramatically improve recording and mixing audio quality with over 1,000 dB additional headroom and higher resolution sound, thanks to the new floating-point architecture
• Capture, monitor, and output audio in pristine clarity with a choice of Pro Tools HD Series interfaces

New AAX plug-in format—built for the future

• Pro Tools HD 10 introduces the new AAX (Avid Audio eXtension) plug-in format, enabling better workflows and sound parity when sharing sessions between DSP-accelerated and native-based Pro Tools systems
• With two formats available—AAX DSP and AAX Native—AAX opens the door to future advancements in Pro Tools technology

Pro Tools HD 10 software—included with Pro Tools|HDX

• Record and play back up to 256 audio tracks per card (or play back up to 768 tracks with three cards) to support the most massive mixes
• Get great recording and playback responsiveness with the extended disk cache, which can load entire sessions into RAM, and ensures maximum track counts from networked-attached storage, such as Avid Unity ISIS, and slower local drives
• Control up to 12 Pro Tools|HD systems from one using the Satellite Link option
• Mix audio from up to two Pro Tools|HD systems with a D-Command control surface through Multi-mode

Pro Tools 10

New Pro Tools 10 software adds major new features to the world’s leading digital audio workstation, delivering on top requests from both audio post and music professionals. With it, Avid introduces several new tools and timesaving workflows, such as the top-requested Clip Gain, which separates pre-mix levels from Pro Tools software’s renowned mixing automation, greatly speeding up and improving the workflow between sound editors and mixers. Customers will also be able to achieve higher sound quality and better performance than ever, whether they’re recording, composing, editing, mixing, or playing back their sessions.

Work faster and easier with the most robust tools

• Speed up pre-mix and editing workflows with Clip Gain
• Experience better performance—even on network-attached or slow local drives—with disk handling improvements and real-time fades
• Get more flexibility—and 24-hour timeline capability—when conforming multiple projects into a single timeline

Sound your best, faster than ever

• Use multiple file formats and mixed bit depths in the same project—including interleaved—without converting files
• Record, edit, and mix in higher resolution with 32-bit floating-point file format support
• Get the sound of the renowned System 5 console EQ and dynamics with the Avid Channel Strip plug-in, now included with Pro Tools 10

“Today’s audio post and music professionals are faced with evolving challenges and much more demanding productions that require more power, extended capabilities, and better sound quality than ever before,” says Chris Gahagan, Avid’s senior vice president of products and solutions. “Pro Tools|HDX and Pro Tools 10 software mark an enormous leap forward in sound quality and efficiency, enabling our top professional customers to deliver their best sounding, most creative work in less time.”

“We’re trying to make art and express ourselves and work towards making something that’s really enjoyable to the audience,” adds Will Files, sound designer at Skywalker Sound (The Tree of Life, The Smurfs, Cloverfield). “Having this technology lets us work faster and easier—with fewer constraints—and achieve our artistic intent with fewer hurdles. I’m over the moon to see all of these new features in Pro Tools 10 that I’ve been wanting for years. The fact that you can [now] play sessions off of a network storage [device]—that’s going to change everything. That alone—especially for a large facility such as ours—will allow us to manage our projects in a completely different way.”

Complete Pro Tools|HDX systems, which include the Pro Tools|HDX PCIe card, Pro Tools HD 10 software, and a choice of Pro Tools HD Series interface, will be available worldwide on 18 November 2011. Pricing is as follows:

• New Pro Tools|HDX systems start at $9,999
• Pro Tools|HD 1 owners can crossgrade to Pro Tools|HDX starting at $7,999
• Pro Tools|HD 2 owners can crossgrade to Pro Tools|HDX starting at $6,999
• Pro Tools|HD 3 owners can crossgrade to Pro Tools|HDX starting at $5,999
• Pro Tools|HD Native owners can crossgrade to Pro Tools|HDX for $7,499

Pro Tools 10 software

Pro Tools 10 software is available worldwide now. Pricing is as follows:

• Pro Tools 10 software (full version) retails for $699 (please note that Pro Tools HD 10 software is bundled with Pro Tools|HD family systems only, and is not available for separate purchase except as an upgrade)
• Pro Tools 9 owners can upgrade to Pro Tools 10 for $299
• Pro Tools HD software owners can upgrade to Pro Tools HD 10 starting at $999

Crossgrade pricing is also available for owners of Pro Tools LE, Pro Tools M-Powered, and Complete Production Toolkit.

avid.com/protools

Avid today announced the release of the Fast Track C400 and Fast Track C600, the next generation of the best-selling M-Audio Fast Track line of USB interfaces. The new Fast Track C-series delivers exceptional audio quality plus hands-on controls for a superior user experience. The interfaces are available bundled with studio-standard Pro Tools MP software or as standalone units.

Sporting a new, desktop-friendly, ergonomic design, the new Fast Track C-series interfaces combine multiple solutions into one by incorporating a studio-quality audio interface, unique hands-on controls, and an integrated monitor management system. The end result is a new generation of music creation solutions that empower musicians to deliver better quality recordings in less time.

• All-new industrial design maximizes desktop space while providing hands-on access to key controls.
• An assignable Multi button delivers hands-on software control, enabling musicians to maintain the creative flow (Fast Track C600 also features re-assignable transport controls).
• Superior converters, redesigned analog signal paths, and 24-bit/96 kHz audio fidelity ensure recordings will sound amazing.
• Intuitive monitor management system enables musicians to compare their mixes on multiple sets of studio monitors—confirming mixes translate well.
• Onboard MX Core DSP technology supplies reverb and delay on headphone outputs, inspiring great performances and delivering low-latency monitoring without taxing the host computer.
• Each interface is available as a bundle with industry-leading Pro Tools MP software, or standalone for use with other popular audio software.

“Our product designers met directly with our customers, looked at how they create their recordings, and constructed a desktop unit that would truly be the centerpiece of a home studio,” said Tanguy Leborgne, Avid vice president, creative enthusiasts product management. “With the Fast Track C-Series, musicians get an interface, hands-on controls, and a monitor management system – all in one lightweight, portable unit with incredible audio fidelity and performance specs. These exciting releases make it simpler than ever to transform ideas into professional-quality music by putting more control at your fingertips, giving you the freedom to make music at the speed of your creativity.”

On the Mac, the Fast Track C-Series hardware requires OS X 10.5.8 or greater, or 10.6.3 or greater, an Intel processor, 1 GB of RAM and a USB 2.0 port. Pro Tools SE requires Mac OS X 10.5.8 or greater, or 10.6.1 or greater, a 1.8 GHz multi-core Intel processor, a 5400 RPM hard drive, 1 GB of RAM and Adobe Flash Player 10.

Fast Track C400 and C600 are available now for $309.95 and $499.95 respectively, and include Pro Tools SE streamlined music creation software. Pro Tools MP + Fast Track C400 is available for $499.95. Pro Tools MP + Fast Track C600 is available for $699.95.

http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/FastTrackC600.html

Avid today announced the release of Sibelius 7, the newest version of the company’s flagship musical notation software. Combining an all new task-oriented user interface, a newly recorded professional-quality sampled sound library, native 64-bit performance, full MusicXML interchange support, and advanced typography and graphics features, Sibelius 7 is more powerful and versatile than ever before.

“Whether you’re a composer, arranger, copyist, publisher, instrumentalist, teacher or student, Sibelius 7 enables you to write music even more quickly and easily—no matter your level of experience,” said Chris Gahagan, Avid Senior Vice President of Products and Solutions. “Sibelius 7 offers a completely redesigned user interface and technology architecture, providing incredibly fast performance and improved workflows designed to help you create beautiful scores faster and more easily than ever.”

What’s New in Sibelius 7?

• New and exclusive professional-quality sound library – Unique to Sibelius, the new professional-quality sound library delivers stunning musical realism to scores during playback. It includes the Avid Orchestra, a specially recorded full symphony orchestra, a collection of rock and pop sounds from the Avid virtual instrument team, a 27-stop church organ from leading virtual organ creator Hauptwerk, and a selection of sounds from Sample Logic Rumble and Fanfare featuring 14-time world champion Drum and Bugle Corps, The Blue Devils.
• Completely redesigned task-oriented user interface – Optimized for single-display systems, the new user interface employs a rich graphical toolbar and dockable panels that don’t obscure the working area, putting all of the software’s features at the user’s fingertips. The redesigned mixer also allows finer control of playback than ever before, delivering more balanced mixes.
• Full MusicXML interchange – Complete MusicXML import and now export makes sharing files with hundreds of music applications, including Finale, easier than ever.
• 64-bit performance – Sibelius 7 is the world’s first native 64-bit notation software, and has been completely rewritten to take advantage of the performance of today’s incredibly fast 64-bit hardware and operating systems.
• Powerful text, graphic and sharing options – Publisher-quality typography and graphics import/export capability delivers finished scores with professional-quality text and graphics. Publish and export demanding layouts and text-heavy scores with advanced finishing options, including direct PDF and EPS export. Also sync with or import notation from Pro Tools, or export scores as Scorch files, then share or publish them on the web or via Avid Scorch for iPad.

“Sibelius 7 clearly demonstrates that the design team is not content to rest on their laurels,” declares Bill Holab, engraver and winner of 57 Paul Revere awards for graphic excellence in music. “They have completely revamped the interface, made it easier for novice users, yet retained all of the familiar shortcuts. On top of that, they have redesigned the display system so that we get a far more accurate view of the music onscreen, and added in extensive text features that are essential to some of the complex projects we work on, like opera vocal scores. Sibelius 7 is an intrinsic part of our production workflow and will continue to be the main tool we use to prepare high-end music publications and performance materials.”

“The striking thing about Sibelius 7 is the new user interface – the startling thing about Sibelius 7 is how much faster the new user interface allows you to work,” explains John Murdoch, music director of Lehigh Valley Presbyterian Church in Allentown, PA. “Are you arranging a score for a choral performance? Sibelius 7 makes you faster. Are you creating music for live playback with virtual instruments? Sibelius 7 makes you faster. Are you simplifying a score for Broadway musical auditions? Sibelius 7 makes you faster. And that was just my day yesterday.”

On the Mac, Sibelius 7 requires OS X 10.6.7 or later (or OS X 10.7), at least 1 GB of available RAM, 750 MB of free hard disk space, and a DVD-ROM drive. To use the Sibelius 7 Sounds sample library, Avid recommends an Intel Core 2 Duo or better, 4 GB+ total physical RAM, and 40 GB total hard disk space (7200 rpm or faster drive recommended; SSD preferable).

Sibelius 7 is now available for $599. Current Sibelius customers may take advantage of upgrade options of $149, with multi-seat upgrade pricing from $60 per seat. Customers looking to crossgrade from another notation product can purchase a crossgrade for $199. Avid also offers individual educator and student pricing for $295. In addition, students receive four years of complimentary upgrades. This price and four years of complimentary upgrades also apply to Avid’s leading audio and video software, Pro Tools and Media Composer. Educational multi-user pricing is offered at $120 per seat. To learn more or to watch a video overview of Sibelius 7, visit Sibelius online. For purchasing inquiries, please visit the Sibelius Store.

http://www.sibelius.com/

Avid recently released its first application for iPad: Avid Scorch. Musicians can now practice, perform and purchase their favorite sheet music on the go with an application that transforms an iPad into an interactive score library, music stand and sheet music store.

Powered by Avid’s Sibelius music notation software engine, Avid Scorch is the first sheet music app to offer a rich, interactive experience that makes scores easy to learn and play. Scorch also offers unparalleled access to the most popular sheet music through an in-app store with more than 150,000 premium titles available from world-class publishers.

Musicians, music teachers and students will enjoy features in Scorch, including:

• Interactive Learning and Performance — Musicians can easily learn songs or adapt them to their instrument by transposing a score, changing instruments, or converting to and from guitar tab—then give a great performance using Music Stand mode, which offers a full display of the sheet music on the iPad. Users can also see the score played on the Keyboard display, hear music played back and speed it up or slow it down.
• Portable, Expandable Music Collection — Using the app, customers can purchase and download more than 150,000 scores available from Hal Leonard and Music Sales. The Scorch app also eliminates the need to carry folders full of paper and music books by making it easy to add Sibelius and Sibelius First scores to the iPad.
• Sleek Interface — It’s easy to manipulate and play back scores with a simple touch-enabled interface. Music is easy to view, regardless of size, through impressive display clarity and functionality, including the ability to select from a variety of paper textures and font choices. Users can also take advantage of Music Stand mode to devote the entire display to the sheet music and turn pages quickly, allowing musicians to stay in the moment.
• Interactive Learning and Performance — Musicians can easily learn songs or adapt them to their instrument by transposing a score, changing instruments, or converting to and from guitar tab—then give a great performance using Music Stand mode, which offers a full display of the sheet music on the iPad. Users can also see the score played on the Keyboard display, hear music played back and speed it up or slow it down.

“We’re certain our customers will be excited to use Scorch, an innovative iPad application, to purchase, practice and perform sheet music wherever they go,” said Tanguy Leborgne, Vice President, Creative Enthusiasts Products and Solutions at Avid. “We’re focused on using our industry-leading technology in exciting new ways so musicians, teachers, students — all creative people — can achieve their artistic vision.”

The Avid Scorch app is currently available worldwide from the App Store for a limited-time introductory price of $4.99. On 31 July 2011, the price will increase to $7.99.

www.avid.com/scorch

The contest below is now over. Many thanks to all who participated! We’ll post the winners once everyone has been notified.

You can win a free copy of Avid Scorch from Mac OS X Audio! Here’s how:

• Log into your Twitter account. If you don’t have one, set one up. It’s free!
• Follow @macosxaudio (not just being selfish, we’ll need to DM your prize).
• Compose a tweet mentioning this post (even using the Tweet button below), but make sure to mention “@macosxaudio” so your post can be found. Your tweet must mention @macosxaudio and be publicly visible to be valid. Example:

Win a Free Copy of Avid Scorch for iPad from @macosxaudio (they rock!) http://www.macosxaudio.com/

• The first 5 posts tonight after 8:00 pm (US Pacific Time) on 12 July, and the first 5 posts after 12:01 am on 13 July will be tallied and sent a “redeem” code for your free copy of Avid Scorch on the iTunes Store, via Twitter Direct Message (DM).
• We’ll send out prizes and post the winning users here after the contest is over.
• We are adhering to rules defined by Twitter for contests, including:
• Anyone found to use multiple accounts to enter will be ineligible.
• Do not post multiple times. It’s about being first, not most. And spam sucks.
• This contest is obviously not valid in regions that prohibit such joy. If you cannot access the iTunes Store from your location, or if you don’t own an iPad, this prize is useless to you. Avid Scorch is only iPad compatible (not iPhone, not iPod Touch, not Mac OS).

Good luck!

Avid today announced Pro Tools 9—an impressive evolution of the industry’s most popular music creation and audio production solution. Version 9 of Pro Tools offers customers the unprecedented choice to work with Avid audio interfaces, third-party audio interfaces, or no hardware at all when using the built-in audio capabilities of your computer. New support for the Avid EUCON open Ethernet protocol now enables customers to expand control surface options to include Avid’s Artist Series and Pro Series audio consoles and controllers.

Pro Tools customers—from the aspiring enthusiast to the professional—can now create sophisticated, great sounding mixes, whether they’re at home, on the road, or working in a large facility using an open, flexible workflow for enhanced collaboration and creativity.

Customers can design their workflow of choice using the new Pro Tools 9 software-only configuration with their favorite Avid or third-party audio interface—or standalone—and with Avid Artist and Pro Series controllers. The benefits to users include:

• Versatile workflow design options—Enables customers to work the way they want using Pro Tools as a software only tool, or with hardware options that include either a variety of Avid audio interfaces for an Avid-advantaged workflow, or third-party audio interfaces as a result of new Core Audio and ASIO driver support.
• EUCON support—Delivers more hands-on mixing options to customers using the new Pro Tools 9 software offering or Pro Tools|HD systems with the ability to deeply control Pro Tools through EUCON integration using any Artist Series or Pro Series audio controller or console (formerly known as Euphonix consoles and controllers), in addition to Avid and third-party audio control surfaces.

As a result of customer requests, many high value features formerly available as add-ons are now available right out-of-the-box, including:

• Automatic Delay Compensation—Equips customers using Pro Tools 9 with the ability to create better sounding mixes faster. Users can now mix and record with increased alignment and phase accuracy, without the need to manually compensate for latencies from hardware I/Os, internal and external routing, and plug-in algorithm processing—the number one request on the Pro Tools IdeaScale User Forum.
• More audio tracks and busses—Allows customers to create more elaborate music and audio productions, with support for 96 mono or stereo voices in the new software-only version of Pro Tools (192 voices with Pro Tools HD systems), 256 internal busses, and 160 aux tracks.
• Advanced production toolset—Gives customers access to standard professional tools in Pro Tools 9 to create more polished mixes out-of-the-box. Users can analyze and adjust timing across multiple tracks for tighter rhythm with the built-in multi-track Beat Detective module, improve organization and asset sharing with the DigiBase Pro file management tool, and save time with full Import Session Data dialog.

A series of audio for picture enhancements provides customers with the ability to easily collaborate with other audio and video software users, including:

• OMF/AAF/MXF interchange and MP3 export—Provides customers with simplified session and file exchange between applications.
• Built-in Time Code Ruler—Enables customers to achieve greater accuracy when syncing audio to video in post production (software only configuration of Pro Tools).
• Updated 7.1 surround panner—Allows customers to more easily mix multichannel surround for full film sound production.
• New variable stereo pan depths—Equips customers with authentic and precise track panning capabilities to achieve analog-console feel.

Pro Tools 9 and Pro Tools HD 9 software will be available worldwide on November 12, 2010 starting at $599. For regions outside of the U.S., please see your local retailer for pricing.

www.avid.com

Discuss Pro Tools 9 on our Pro Tools forum.

Avid today introduced Pro Tools | HD Native, enabling a growing market of music and post-production professionals to tackle demanding audio projects using the full capabilities of Pro Tools HD software running entirely on computer CPU host-processing power.

Taking advantage of the rapid advancement in the performance of computer processors, this newest member of the Pro Tools family couples the cutting-edge software features, premium sound quality and broad compatibility of Pro Tools | HD systems, with a highly efficient native audio driver. This combination offers customers outstanding performance without the additional dedicated processing hardware included in larger Pro Tools | HD DSP-assisted systems.

The Pro Tools | HD Native system offers customers a completely integrated professional hardware and software solution featuring a new Pro Tools | HD Native PCIe card and running Pro Tools HD software—delivering a new level of price-performance and simplified, open workflows for recording, editing and mixing. Providing the best audio quality, Pro Tools | HD Native uses Pro Tools HD Series interfaces for up to 64 channels of premium audio conversion and I/O.

Support for SYNC HD enables accurate synchronization to picture for post-production workflows. For integrated monitoring and tactile control, the system integrates with Avid ICON and C|24 work surfaces, and features lossless session and project interchange with other Pro Tools and Avid video editing systems for simplified collaboration.

Additional features include:

• Third-party DAW support—Opens up workflows by giving customers the flexibility to work on their DAW of choice with support for Core Audio and ASIO drivers, enabling broad compatibility with third-party audio applications, such as Apple Logic, Steinberg Cubase, and others, while also offering Avid-advantaged integration with our own solutions.
• Integrated low latency mixer—Allows customers to focus on recording high quality audio with near-zero latency, rather than the distraction of managing a separate low latency mixer. The Pro Tools | HD Native PCIe card enables customers to easily establish a low latency monitor path directly in the Pro Tools system with the push of a button for set and forget direct monitoring while tracking.
• Pro Tools HD Series Interface support—Offers customers the ability to achieve premium audio conversion with up to 192 tracks of audio, and up to 64 channels of I/O using HD I/O, HD OMNI and HD MADI. Customers can create flexible configurations that support a variety of analog and open digital formats for seamless integration into any audio environment. Giving customers an even broader selection of I/O, the system is also compatible with legacy Avid Pro Tools HD interfaces.
• Broad compatibility—Provides customers the flexibility to use their platform of choice with the highest performance and stability available on a native platform, supporting both Windows 7 and Mac Snow Leopard 10.6 or higher.

The Pro Tools | HD Native system will be available worldwide November 5 starting at $3,495. Pro Tools | HD Native will also be available bundled with Pro Tools HD OMNI I/O starting at $5,995. For regions outside of the U.S., please see your local retailer for pricing.

www.avid.com/products/Pro-Tools-HD-Native

Discuss Pro Tools | HD Native on our Pro Tools forum.

Avid has introduced a set of tools—including the new Pro Tools Mbox family, the M-Audio MobilePre and Pro Tools SE bundles—for a range of musicians who are seeking to create, record and mix music at home or on the road.

Designed for musicians and audio engineers looking to turn their Mac into a portable professional recording, mixing and production studio, the third generation of the Pro Tools Mbox family—Pro Tools Mbox Pro, Pro Tools Mbox and Pro Tools Mbox Mini—offers customers premium sound and open workflows with support for the industry’s most popular DAWs. Based on customer feedback, new features in the Pro Tools Mbox family include:

• Re-designed hardware with pro features delivering best-in-class audio—Delivers best-in-class audio quality, enabling customers to achieve professional results at home or on the road. Redesigned from the ground up leveraging Avid’s expertise in professional studio gear, the new Pro Tools Mbox family also features several workflow enhancements including: A professional-grade soft clip limiter that improves overall audio quality by letting users capture hotter signals while recording; and a multi-function button allowing Pro Tools Mbox and Pro Tools Mbox Pro users to control software parameters without using the computer mouse or keyboard.
• Freedom and flexibility to compose using Pro Tools LE or your DAW of choice—Gives customers more options to compose, record, edit and mix with seamless support for the industry’s most popular DAWs, including Pro Tools LE, Ableton Live, Apple Logic, Steinberg Cubase, and more, ensuring sessions are compatible with studios around the world.

For first-time Pro Tools users and emerging artists with an interest in musical composition, editing and production, the new Avid Recording Studio, Avid KeyStudio and Avid Vocal Studio systems provide everything needed to easily create and record music at home, including new Pro Tools SE software and proven M-Audio hardware.

With Pro Tools SE software included, the new Pro Tools SE Family serves as an introduction into the world of Pro Tools software by offering the same user interface found in Avid’s professional Pro Tools product line. Now, Pro Tools SE software offers customers groundbreaking music creation capabilities that leverage technology from professional-level Pro Tools products at a fraction of the price with a very intuitive user interface. The Pro Tools SE Family, which offers dedicated solutions for guitarists, keyboard players and vocalists, includes:

• Avid KeyStudio—Makes it easy for keyboard players to turn their inspiration into a professional-quality recording with a 49-note, velocity-sensitive M-Audio KeyStudio keyboard and Pro Tools SE music creation software.
• Avid Recording Studio—Allows customers to capture guitars, instruments and vocals in better than CD quality at 24-bit/48 kHz with Pro Tools SE music creation software and an M-Audio Fast Track audio interface.
• Avid Vocal Studio—Enables customers to record vocals for use in songs, soundtracks, podcasts or voice-overs with Pro Tools SE music creation software and the M-Audio Producer USB microphone.

With Pro Tools SE software, users can:

• Mix up to 24 tracks (16 audio tracks, 8 virtual instrument tracks) and use the included pro-quality effects—reverb, EQ, and guitar amp/distortion effects—to   create richly detailed and polished recordings.
• Use more than 100 different virtual instruments and more than 3 GB of audio loops to quickly construct songs and ideas.
• View integrated, intuitive tutorials that make it easy to learn how to compose, record, edit and mix on the Pro Tools SE platform.
• Record two instruments at once, and take advantage of built-in composing features including MIDI sequencing and score editing, which provide professional-grade creative solutions to users of every ability level.

The second-generation MobilePre delivers musicians an easy-to-use, full-featured studio-quality recording, mixing and production solution.  Customers can easily record anything from guitar, vocals, keyboards and more directly into their computer, and have the option to compose, record, edit and mix with included Pro Tools SE software, or any of the industry’s most popular DAWs, such as Pro Tools M-Powered, GarageBand, Apple Logic, Ableton Live and more.

Pricing and Availability

Pro Tools Mbox family pricing begins at $399 for the Pro Tools Mbox Mini, $679 for Pro Tools Mbox and $899 for the Pro Tools Mbox Pro. Pro Tools Mbox and Pro Tools Mbox Mini are available worldwide this month. Pro Tools Mbox Pro will be available worldwide in Q4.

Pro Tools SE bundles begin at $99.99 for Avid Vocal Studio, $119.99 for Avid Recording Studio and $129.99 for Avid KeyStudio and will be available in the US this month.

MobilePre is currently available worldwide for $179.

www.avid.com

Discuss the new Avid lineup on our Pro Tools forum.

Avid has introduced a series of newly-designed hardware and software solutions designed to enhance the quality and performance of Pro Tools|HD, the industry’s leading digital audio workstation. The new HD Series interfaces—HD I/O, HD OMNI and HD MADI—offer customers flexible configurations to support a variety of analog and open digital formats for audio recording, mixing and playback. Additionally, new HEAT (Harmonically Enhanced Algorithm Technology) software allows customers to add the realism of vintage analog sound to the Pro Tools mixer via a single global control—eliminating the time consuming and complex task of managing plug-in changes across multiple tracks and allowing customers to remain focused on the craft of mixing.

HD I/O, HD OMNI and HD MADI interfaces for Pro Tools|HD enable customers to achieve the highest-quality audio with improvements to digital audio conversion quality, a variety of new configuration options and increased support for open digital standards like the popular MADI protocol. Features include advances in design, filtering and clocking and flexible digital I/O connectivity, which offers support for a variety of formats. Additionally, Curv, a new soft-knee analog limiter in HD OMNI and HD I/O, cuts the time customers spend re-recording and editing by tracking hotter signals when recording, preventing distortion when overloading inputs. The new I/O options include:

• HD I/O: Enables customers to achieve the highest-quality audio record and playback with the option of three space-saving configurations—16×16 analog, 16×16 digital and 8x8x8 analog and digital—in a 2 RU rack mountable interface.
• HD OMNI: Frees up customer workspace by integrating the functionality of numerous costly outboard components into an all-in-one premium sound solution for recording, mixing and monitoring. Features include state-of-the-art conversion, two world-class mic pre-amps, headphone outputs, a full-featured surround monitor section and a 14×26 channel persistent mixer that functions even when the computer is off—letting users listen to CDs, MP3 players, keyboards and drum machines without the need for an additional mixer.
• HD MADI: Opens up workflows and speeds production time for broadcast, live sound and post production sound professionals by offering the ability to easily connect Pro Tools|HD systems to industry-standard MADI infrastructures, without the need for a format converter. Built-in sample rate conversion on all inputs and outputs allow customers to integrate into workflows with multiple sample rates (upstream and downstream) using a single, 64-channel 1 RU rack mountable interface.

Designed in collaboration with digital/analog engineer Dave Hill of Crane Song, the HEAT software option for Pro Tools|HD systems is an innovation for mixers who value the warmth and sound qualities of tubes, tape machines and analog consoles, but want to eliminate the complications and expenses of using tape machines and vintage outboard processors, or managing plug-in changes across multiple tracks. Customers can now directly add the best sounding euphonic qualities to every track in the Pro Tools mixer using a single, global control, dramatically enhancing sound quality and improving settings management.

HD OMNI, HD MADI and HD I/O converters and HEAT software are available now worldwide. Pricing begins at $3995 MSRP for HD I/O; HD OMNI is available for $2995 MSRP; HD MADI is available for $4995; and HEAT software is available for $495 MSRP in the box or via download on the Avid eStore.

www.avid.com

Discuss the new HD Series Interfaces on our Pro Tools forum.

Avid today introduced the new M-Audio Oxygen series: the first USB MIDI keyboard controller to feature DirectLink, a hassle-free control mode that instantly maps the Oxygen‘s controls to a digital audio workstation (DAW), giving musicians intuitive hands-on control over a session right from the keyboard. Redesigned with a fresh look for stage and studio use and available in 25-, 49- and 61-key models, the Oxygen keyboards are ideal for laptop production, live performance and professional studio applications.

The Oxygen series controllers feature full-size velocity-sensitive keys along with a complement of sliders, knobs and buttons for tweaking and performing with software instruments. With DirectLink, these same controls instantly map to a DAW’s mixer, pan, and transport functions, providing real time control with a variety of DAWs including Pro Tools, Cubase, Reason, Logic and Garageband.

“The new Oxygen controllers take M-Audio’s classic Oxygen line to the next level with DirectLink, making it easier than ever to record, mix and shape a musical performance straight-away without any complicated set up,” says Avid product Manager Tim Chandler. “DirectLink is simple, but effective – automatically linking up with useful controls in your music software. Ultimately, players and producers are able to be more creative and get musical results without the need for complex MIDI mapping or controller programming.”

The Oxygen 25, 49, and 61 are currently shipping for a suggested list price of $149.95, $189.95, and $249.95 respectively.

www.m-audio.com/index.php?do=products.family&ID=USBkeyboardcontrollers

Discuss the Oxygen series controllers in our Hardware forum.

Sibelius 6, the latest version of the world’s best-selling music notation software, is now available from Avid. Designed for educators, students, composers, arrangers, copyists and musicians of all kinds, Sibelius 6 is as simple and intuitive to use as a pen, yet so powerful that it does most things in the blink of an eye. The new version includes hundreds of improvements, including many innovative new features never before seen in notation software.

The new features in Sibelius 6 include:

• Magnetic Layout takes care of almost every detail of score layout for you, automatically. As you write, it gives everything just the right amount of space and avoids collisions – producing beautiful results. This one feature cuts the time taken to prepare a score by up to half.

• Live Tempo lets you conduct the playback of your score by tapping a key on your computer keyboard, MIDI keyboard or foot pedal. Sibelius follows your beat just like a real orchestra does: you can subdivide your beat to slow down, beat once per bar in fast tempos, and hold as long as you like at pauses, all without marking up the score in advance.

• Versions keeps track of revisions to your score, lets you look back at earlier versions of it, and see what changes were made since. Add sticky note-style comments to your score as reminders for yourself, or for others. Compare two versions of the same score, or even two separate scores, and see the differences color-coded in the score.

• Sibelius Sounds Essentials, the included sample library, is better than ever and now requires no set-up thanks to the integrated technology from AIR. The new Sibelius Player allows Sibelius to play back up to 128 channels simultaneously (depending on computer power) with real-time effects including convolution reverb. Sibelius even loads the samples required for playback in the background, so you can edit your score while the sounds load.

• ReWire support allows you to sync Sibelius playback with Pro Tools, Cubase, Logic, GarageBand, and more.

• Classroom Control enables teachers to instantly send scores to every classroom computer, temporarily lock student computers to attract their attention, and gather in all student files at the end of a class.

• Keyboard and Fretboard windows allow you to input notes by clicking on keys or frets, or play your computer’s QWERTY keyboard like a piano. These beautiful, resize-able windows are also ideal for students learning notation.

• Professional engraving improvements include the most flexible and controllable slurs of any notation program, automatic stemlets, feathered beams, note-attached arpeggio lines, automatic cautionary accidentals, and intelligently positioned jazz articulations.

And more! Learn more at www.sibelius.com/6.

Sibelius 6 on the Mac requires OS X 10.4.9 or Mac OS X 10.5 or later, a DVD-ROM drive, and 3.5GB of hard disk space. 2GB or more RAM recommended.

Discuss Sibelius 6 in our Sibelius forum.